An inductive power transfer system is arranged to transfer power from a power transmitter to a power receiver via a wireless power signal. The system supports communication from the power transmitter to the power receiver based on load modulation of the power signal. The power receiver transmitting a first message to the power transmitter which comprises a standby power signal requirement for the power signal during a standby phase. The power transmitter receives the message, and when the system enters the standby phase, the power transmitter provides the power signal in accordance with the standby power signal requirement during. A power receiver configurable standby phase is provided which may for example allow devices to maintain battery charge or to provide fast initialization of the power transfer phase.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the standby power signal requirement is indicative of a power requirement of the power signal during the standby phase.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the standby power signal requirement represents a minimum power for a reduced functionality of the power receiver.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reduced functionality of the power receiver comprises functionality for initializing a wake-up process for the power receiver.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the power requirement indicates a minimum power for maintaining an energy storage requirement for the power receiver during the standby phase.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wake-up message is transmitted from the power receiver by load modulation of the power signal during the standby phase.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the power receiver is configured to transmit the first message during the power transfer phase.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter is configured to enter the standby phase in response to receiving an end of power transfer phase message.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the power receiver charges an internal energy store from the power signal during the standby phase.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter and the power receiver switch from the standby phase to the power transfer phase without entering a configuration phase.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second message indicates a phase the power transmitter should enter after a wake-up from the standby phase.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the standby power signal requirement is indicative of a power requirement of the power signal during the standby phase.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the standby power signal requirement represents a minimum power for a reduced functionality of the power receiver.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the power transmitter transitions to the power transfer phase in response to receiving a wake-up message from the power receiver during the standby phase.
22. The power receiver circuit of claim 21, wherein the standby power signal requirement is indicative of a power requirement of the power signal during the standby phase.
23. The power receiver circuit of claim 21, wherein the standby power signal requirement represents a minimum power for a reduced functionality of the power receiver circuit.
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November 18, 2020
December 6, 2022
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